Laminating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A laminate apparatus having a laminate target supply unit that supplies a laminate target along a supply path, a sheet supply unit in which a pair of upper and lower sheets being wound in roll shape are detachably mounted, the sheet supply unit supplying a pair of sheets to laminate the laminate target, a laminate processor, a laminate processor that laminates the laminate target supplied with the pair of sheets when the laminate target is sandwiched between the pair of sheets and then feeds the laminated product outwardly. The laminate processor includes a pair of upper and lower pinch rollers disposed in the laminating processor, a pair of upper and lower sheet guide portions disposed between the pinch rollers and the sides of the sheets drawn from the pair of sheet rolls. The sheets drawn from the sheet rolls contact the sheet guide portions and the centers of each sheet roll are disposed at positions apart from leadlines of the sheets which connect the peripheries of the pinching roller in the slide contact portions of the sheet guides.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application contains subject matter that is related to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/664,051, filed Sep. 18, 2000. U.S. Pat. No.6,431,243. The two co-pending applications have common inventors and arecommonly owned or assigned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a laminating apparatus that covers and adheresthe front and back surfaces of a laminate target, such as paper, using asheet made of synthetic resin.

2. Description of Related Art

There has been known a laminating apparatus for laminating a medium,such as a card, by a sheet of synthetic resin film.

National Stage Laid-Open Patent Publication (KOUHYOU) No. 10-507005based on a PCT application discloses an example of the laminatingapparatus described above. In the laminating apparatus, a pair of sheetrolls which are wound around each sheet thereof for laminating bothsurfaces of paper are rotatably supported at upper and lower positionsin a sheet cassette, and the sheet cassette can be detachably mounted toa sheet supply unit of the laminating apparatus.

In the laminating apparatus, a pair of upper and lower pinch rollers aredisposed at the paper feed-out side of the sheet cassette. Both pinchrollers are structured so as to rotate in synchronization with a turn ofan external handle.

Paper put on a paper supply tray is fed to the gap between the upper andlower sheet rolls, and the paper is sandwiched therebetween andlaminated while drawing the upper and lower sheets. In this case, thesheet has an adhesive layer on one side thereof (pinching surface). Alaminate thus formed is cut in an X direction (the directionperpendicular to a feed direction of the paper) using a cutter blade.Accordingly, the paper laminated by sheets of a PET film (laminate) canbe obtained.

However, in the conventional apparatus, upper and lower sheet rolls aredrawn from each periphery near a paper feed path between centers ofrotation of the sheet rolls and are directly pinched at the pinch rollerportion. Paper is fed to the pinching position, so that a pinch anglewhen the paper and the sheets are pinched by the pinch rollers (which isa contained angle formed by straight lines which connects theperipheries of each sheet roll and peripheries of the pinching side ofthe pinch rollers and the paper feed path) is small when the diameter ofthe sheet roll is large. The degree of the pinch angle increases as thediameter of the sheet rolls becomes smaller.

Laminating action varies according to the pinch angle existing when thesheets for laminating the paper and the paper to be laminated arepinched. That is, when the pinch angle is small, the adhesive layers ofthe sheets adhere to the surfaces of the paper upstream from a pinchingpoint by the pinch rollers (upstream to the paper feed direction), sothat the sheets and the paper adhere to each other before a pinchingpressure is applied to them by pinch rollers. Therefore, problems occurthat the sheets or the paper become wrinkled or air bubbles are boundedbetween the sheets and the paper.

On the other hand, when the pinch angle is too large, for example,approximately 90 degrees, a resistance of drawing the sheets from thesheet rolls increases, so that the laminating operation becomesdifficult. Such a problem often arises when the sheet roll having alarge diameter, that is, the sheet roll for laminating large sizedpaper, is used.

Incidentally, it has been desired that laminate targets having variouswidths would be laminated in the market. To respond to a demand tolaminate an A3-size laminate target having a wide width, a laminatingapparatus for laminating the A3-size laminate target (hereinafterreferred to as a laminating apparatus for A3-size paper) has beendeveloped.

However, in the laminating apparatus for A3-size paper, the width of theaxial direction of the sheet roll for A3-size paper is larger than thewidth of the conventional sheet rolls for A4-size paper or A6-sizepaper. Further, the feed length of the sheet drawn from the sheet rollfor A3-size paper for one lamination is normally longer than the feedlength of the sheet drawn from the sheet roll for A4-size paper orA6-size paper. Therefore, the length of the sheet wound in the sheetroll for A3-size paper is longer than that in either sheet roll forA4-size paper or A6-size paper. In other words, a diameter of the sheetroll for A3-size paper is larger than that of either sheet roll forA4-size paper or A6-size paper.

Accordingly, in the sheet cassette for A3-size paper, the width of theaxial direction of the sheet cassette, the thickness of the sheetcassette in the direction of the supply path, and the height of thesheet cassette in the direction perpendicular to the direction of thesupply path were large compared with those in either sheet cassette forA4-size paper or A6-size paper.

Therefore, the width of the cassette acommodating portion in thedirection perpendicular to the direction of the supply path and thethickness of the cassette acommodating portion in the direction of thesupply path in the laminating apparatus for A3-size paper are largecompared with those of the conventional cassette accommodating portion,so that neither sheet cassette for A4-size paper nor the sheet cassettefor A6-size paper can be accommodated or secured in the cassetteaccommodating portion.

Further, as to the supply path for laminating a laminate target in thesheet cassette for A3-size paper, the diameter of the sheet roll forA3-size paper is larger than that of the sheet roll for either A4-sizepaper or A6-size paper, so that the laminate target insertion port andthe laminate target feed-out portion of the sheet cassette for A3-sizepaper are located at a higher position compared with those of eithersheet cassette for A4-size paper or A6-size paper.

Accordingly, when either sheet cassette for A4-size paper or A6-sizepaper is accommodated in the cassette accommodating portion in thelaminating apparatus for A3-size paper as it is, the supply path islocated at a lower position in the sheet supply unit. Therefore, alaminate target put on the laminate target supply unit (paper tray)could not pass either the laminate target insertion port or the laminatetarget feed-out port of the sheet cassettes for A4-size paper andA6-size paper.

For the reason described above, neither conventional sheet cassette forA4-size paper nor for A6-size paper can be set in the laminatingapparatus for A3-size paper as it is.

Alternatively, in order to laminate a laminate target whose size is A4or smaller in the laminating apparatus for A3-size paper, it isconceivable that there is a method by which a laminate target islaminated using the sheet cassette for A3-size paper whereby anunnecessary portion of the sheet which exceeds a projection area of thelaminate target is cut or a method whereby new sheet cassettes forA4-size paper and for A6-size paper which can be mounted in thelaminating apparatus for A3-size paper are developed.

However, in the method by which a laminate target is laminated using thesheet cassette for A3-size paper and an unnecessary portion of the sheetwhich exceeds a projection area of the laminate target is cut, an areacorresponding to the unnecessary portion becomes large as the size ofthe laminate target becomes small, so that a yield of the sheet becomeslow and it is inefficient.

Further, in the method by which new sheet cassettes for A4-size paperand A6-size paper which can be mounted in the laminating apparatus forA3-size paper are developed, there were problems that it takes a lot oftrouble and time to develop such sheet cassettes and the operating costsbecome expensive because consumers have to buy the sheet cassettes foreach laminating apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the invention is made to solve the aforementioned problems ofthe prior art and it is an object of the invention to provide alaminating apparatus capable of maintaining laminating actionsubstantially constantly regardless of the size of the diameter of sheetrolls and capable of laminating various sized papers (laminate targets).

According to a first aspect of the invention, a laminating apparatus maycomprise a laminate target supply unit that supplies a laminate target,a sheet supply unit in which a pair of upper and lower sheets beingwound in a roll shape are detachably mounted, and that supplies the pairof sheets, and a laminate processor that laminates the laminate targetsupplied from the laminate target supply unit with the pair of sheetssupplied from the sheet supply unit while the laminate target issandwiched between the pair of sheets and fed out as a laminatedproduct, wherein a laminate processor including a pair of upper andlower pinch rollers that are rotatably disposed in the laminatingprocessor, and a pair of upper and lower sheet guide portions disposedbetween both pinch rollers, and sides of drawing the sheets from thepair of sheet rolls, wherein the sheets are drawn from peripheries ofthe upper and lower sheet rolls that are apart from the center of eachupper and lower sheet rolls in an upper and a lower directions so thatouter surfaces of each sheet slide and contact at the sheet guideportions, the centers of each sheet roll are disposed at the positionsthat are apart from extension lines of sheet leading directionsconnecting a respective periphery of a pinching side of each pinchroller and slide contact portions of the sheet guides.

With this arrangement, the outer surfaces of the sheets drawn from theperipheries of each sheet roll are surely warped at the slide contactportions of the upper and lower guide portions and then are let to thepinching portion of the pinch rollers, which includes a certain pinchangle, along the lead lines of the sheets.

Therefore, regardless of the winding diameter size of the sheet roll inthe pristine condition or the size change of the winding diameterthrough the use of the sheets, remarkable effects are produced such thatthe pinch angles become constant and the laminating action is maintainedconstant.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the laminatingapparatus of the first aspect of the invention, the center of the sheetroll is positioned so as to be apart from the sheet guide portions to alaminate target leading side in proportion to a size of the windingdiameter of the sheet in a pristine condition. With this arrangement, asin the case where the sheet rolls are mounted using the sheet cassette,the pinch angles become constant and, thus, the laminating action ismaintained constant regardless of the size of the initial windingdiameter of the sheet rolls or the changes of the diameters of the sheetrolls through the use of the sheets.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the laminatingapparatus of the first aspect of the invention, a sheet cassette, inwhich the sheets wound in a roll shape are accommodated, is structuredso as to be detachably mounted in the sheet supply unit and the sheetcassette is provided with the sheet guide portions. The sheet cassetteaccommodating sheet rolls having a large winding diameter in pristinecondition and the sheet cassette accommodating sheet rolls having asmall winding diameter in pristine condition can be disposed so as toproduce the same laminating action on both sized sheet cassettes.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the invention, in thelaminating apparatus of the third aspect of the invention, a dimensionof a feed direction of the laminate target in the sheet supply unit isformed to correspond to the sheet cassette accommodating the sheethaving a winding large diameter, the sheet supply unit is structured sothat an attachment can be mounted thereof, and a sheet cassetteaccommodating the sheet having a small winding diameter is detachablyattached to the attachment at a position adjacent to the pinch rollers.

In addition to the effects obtained by the invention, the sheet cassetteaccommodating sheet rolls having a small winding diameter can be mountedin one laminating apparatus using the attachment, and thus an effectthat the applicability of the laminating apparatus is expanded isproduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is described in detail with the reference to the followingdrawings, wherein like numerals represent like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a laminating apparatus of anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of essential parts of a cassetteaccommodating portion;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a swing mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state where a sheet cassettefor small size paper is mounted in the cassette accommodating portionvia an attachment;

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a housing of the sheetcassette for A3-size paper used in the laminating apparatus of theembodiment of the invention and the cassette accommodating portion;

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the housing of the sheet cassette forA3-size paper;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the attachment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a housing of a sheet cassette forA4-size paper when viewed from the bottom;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a housing of a sheet cassette forA6-size paper when viewed from the bottom;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state where the sheet cassettefor A4-size paper is mounted on the attachment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where the sheet cassettefor A6-size paper is mounted on the attachment;

FIG. 12 is a side explanatory diagram showing a state where a large anda small size sheet cassettes are set;

FIG. 13 is a side explanatory diagram showing a state where sheet rollshaving a large winding diameter are set and a state where sheet rollshaving a small winding diameter are set;

FIG. 14 is partially perspective views showing arrangements of lightsensors with respect to marks on outer surfaces of flange portions ofthe sheet rolls;

FIG. 15(a) is a diagram showing a layer structure of sheets laminated bythe laminating apparatus of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15(b) is a diagram showing a method of using a laminate;

FIG. 16(a) is a perspective view of a laminate made by anotherembodiment; and

FIG. 16(b) is an enlarged view showing a layer structure of thelaminate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described. FIG. 1 is aschematic plan view of a laminating apparatus of an embodiment of theinvention, FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a cassette accommodatingportion, FIG. 3 is a side view of the cassette accommodating portion,FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a state where a sheet cassetteis mounted in the sheet cassette accommodating portion which is mountedon an attachment, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the sheet cassette forlaminating A3-size paper, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of theattachment.

In FIGS. 1-5 and 7 laminating apparatus 1 of this embodiment of theinvention is covered by an outer housing 1 a, and as same as thestructure of the prior art, the inside of the laminating apparatus 1comprises a paper supply unit A, a sheet supply unit B, a laminatingprocessor C, and a cutting unit D, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The paper supply unit A serves paper P, such as a document, a card, orthe like, and the sheet supply unit B serves sheets S1, S2 by which thesheet P is laminated. The laminating processor C serves to laminate thepaper P, which is fed out from the paper supply unit A, with the sheetsS1, S2 while sandwiching the paper P between the sheets S1, S2, therebyobtaining a laminate R. Further, the cutting unit D serves to cut thelaminate R fed out from the laminating processor C, and has not only afunction of cutting the laminate R in a Y direction shown in FIG. 1using a first cutting mechanism (not shown) which is cutter means, butalso has a function of cutting the laminate R in an X direction shown inFIG. 1 using a second cutting mechanism 66 shown in FIG. 6 of alongitudinal cutting mechanism 47.

As shown in FIG. 1, a paper supply tray 11 provided to the paper supplyunit A, which is a laminate target supply unit, on the left upper sideof the outer housing 1 a, may be structured so that the paper supplytray 11 can be removed from the outer housing 1 a or can fold when notin use.

The paper supply tray 11 has a paper mount face on which the paper P tobe laminated is put, and is provided with paper guides 12 a, 12 b forpositioning the paper P in a width direction of the paper P. The paperguides 12 a, 12 b are supported by the paper supply tray 11 so that atleast one of them is freely slidable in the X direction, and thus servesto adjust the distance between a wall face of the outer housing 1 a andthe paper guide to any value. In this embodiment, sheet cassettes 20 foreach paper size are disposed so that the paper P is laminated withrespect to the right side of the paper P (the right side when viewedfrom the feed-out side of the paper P).

Between a base end of the paper supply tray 11 and the front side (alaminate target leading side) of the sheet cassette 20 which is freelydetachably mounted on the cassette accommodating portion 4 which has notop surface in the sheet supply unit B, a pair of paper feed rollers 8a, 8 b, which are paper feed roller means, are disposed so as to move toand from the laminate target (the paper P) leading side via a swingmechanism 3 which is an interlocking unit described later (see FIGS. 2through 4).

The sheet cassette 20, which is freely detachably attached to one of thecassette accommodating portion 4 or an attachment 60 described later, isconstructed by containing two sheet rolls 21, 22 in its housing 23 asshown in FIG. 6.

The laminating apparatus 1 of the invention is structured so that eachdetachably mounted sheet cassette 20 including different size housing 23in which two sheet rolls 21, 22 having the width corresponding to A3,A4, or A6-size paper are accommodated, so that the laminating apparatus1 can laminate at least three sizes of pater, e.g., A3, A4, and A6-sizepaper P. Hereinafter, a housing for A3-size paper is 23 a (see FIGS. 5and 6), a housing for A4-size paper is 23 b (see FIGS. 8 and 10), and ahousing for A6-size paper is 23 c (see FIGS. 9 and 11).

The housing 23 used in this embodiment is formed by an injection moldingmethod using a synthetic resin material, such as polypropylene resin,and comprises a pair of front and rear cases 27 a, 27 b. The endportions of the front and rear cases 27 a, 27 b are mutually engagedwith each other and integrated with each other, thereby fabricating thehousing 23.

An opening at the front side (an upstream of feed direction of the paperand the laminate target leading side) serves as a paper insertion port27 c, and an opening at the back side (a downstream of feed direction ofthe paper and laminate target feed-out side) serves as a paper feed-outport 27 d.

The paper insertion port 27 c has a function of feeding the paper P intothe gap between the sheet rolls 21, 22. The paper feed-out port 27 d hasa function of feeding out the paper P fed through the paper insertionport 27 c to the laminating processor C together with the sheets S1, S2fed out from the sheet rolls 21, 22, respectively The paper feed-outport 27 d is provided with a pair of upper and lower shutters 24 foropening/closing the paper feed-out port 27 d.

A pair of upper and lower guide plates 25 a, 25 b are provided in thehousing 23 so as to extend from the paper insertion port 23 a to thepaper feed-out port 27 d. The guide plates 25 a, 25 b form a guide pathfor guiding the paper P fed from the paper insertion port 27 c to thepaper feed-out port 27 d. In this embodiment, the guide plates 25 a, 25b are different in length, and the lower guide plate 25 b is shorterwhile the upper guide plate 25 a is longer. The lower guide plate 25 bis provided with a resin spring 26 for pressing the paper P being fedagainst the upper guide plate 25 a to position the paper P. Accordingly,the paper P fed from the paper insertion port 27 c is surely guided tothe paper feed-out port 27 d by the guide plates 25 a, 25 c and theresin spring 26.

On the side where the sheets are drawn from the sheet rolls 21, 22 (thepaper feed-out port 27 d side), a pair of sheet guide portions 29 a, 29b are disposed between a pinching portion 28 of both pinch rollers 31,32 (see FIGS. 6 and 12). The sheets S1, S2 to be drawn from the upperand lower sheet rolls 21, 22 in the housing 23 of each sheet cassette 20are drawn from the peripheries apart in up and down direction from thecenters of reels 21 a, 22 a of each sheet roll 21, 22. The sheets S1, S2are curled at the tips (slide contact portions) of the sheet guideportions 29 a, 29 b and contact the peripheries of the pinching side ofthe pinch rollers 31, 32. In this case, the centers of reels 21 a, 22 aof the sheet rolls 21, 22 are at positions which are apart in the up anddown direction from lead lines 50 a, 50 b of the sheets connecting eachtip (slide contact portion) of the sheet guide portions 29 a, 29 b andthe peripheries of the pinching side of the pinch rollers.

With this structure, either when the diameter of the sheet rolls 21, 22are large such as soon after starting using them or when the diameter ofthe sheet rolls 21, 22 become small by using them, so that the sheetsare drawn near the peripheries of the reels 21 b, 22 b of the sheetrolls 21, 22, the sheets S1, S2 drawn from the peripheries of the sheetrolls 21, 22 are led to the pinching portion 28 along the lead lines 50a, 50 b of the sheets formed by constant pinch angles θ1, θ2, after theouter surfaces of sheets S1, S2 are surely slid and curled at the tips(slide contact portions) of the sheet guides 29 a, 29 b.

Therefore, regardless of the size of initial winding diameter of thesheet rolls 21, 22 or the change of the winding diameter of the sheetrolls 21, 22 through the use of the sheets, the pinch angles θ1, θ2become constant and thus the laminating action is maintained constant.As shown in FIG. 12, the centers of reels 21 a, 22 a of the sheet rolls21, 22 accommodated in the small housing 23 b for A4-size paper or thesmall housing 23 c for A6-size paper are positioned downstream of thefeed direction so that the centers of reels 21 a, 22 a of the sheetrolls 21, 22 get closer to the pinching portion 28, by extension and tothe sheet guide portions 29 a, 29 b than the centers of reels 21 a, 22 aof the sheet rolls 21, 22 accommodated in the large housing 23 a forA3-size paper. Conversely, the centers of reels 21 a, 22 a of the sheetrolls 21, 22 accommodated in the large housing 23 a for A3-size paperare positioned upstream of the feed direction so that the centers ofreels 21 a, 22 a of the sheet rolls 21, 22 get further away from thesheet guide portions 29 a, 29 b than the centers of reels 21 a, 22 a ofthe sheet rolls 21, 22 accommodated in the small housing 23 b forA4-size paper or the small housing 23 c for A6-size paper.

To meet this structure, the housing 23 b for A4-size paper or thehousing 23 c for A6-size paper is mounted on the attachment 60 describedlater.

With this structure, the sheet cassette accommodating the sheet rollshaving large initial diameter and the sheet cassette accommodating thesheet rolls having small initial diameter can be mounted so as togenerate the same laminating action between them.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, 10, and 11, the attachment 60 has the same planshape as that of the housing 23 a for A3-size paper. The attachment 60is fit into the cassette accommodating portion 4 which has no topsurface, and is structured so that the housing 23 b for A4-size paperand the housing 23 c for A6-size paper which are smaller than thehousing 23 a for A3-size paper can be mounted to each predeterminedposition. This will be further described in detail. The attachment 60 isformed in substantially L-shape in side cross section by a bottom plate60 a, on which the housing 23 is mounted, and a wall plate 60 b thatstands from one side of the bottom plate 60 a (the upstream of the paperP in this embodiment), and is integrally formed by an injection moldingmethod using synthetic resin so that the block portion 60 c forpositioning the attachment 60 protrudes upwardly from one end of alongitudinal direction of the bottom plate 60 a and the wall plate 60 b(the right edge of the paper P in this embodiment). The wall plate 60 band the block portion 60 c are provided with support portions 60 d, 60 dfor preventing the housing 23 set in the attachment 60 from falling downto the upstream side of the feed direction of the paper P. Further, aplurality of guide recesses 62 and positioning protrusions 63 arelocated at predetermined positions.

When the housing 23 is set in the cassette accommodating portion 4 orthe attachment 60, guide protrusions 61 that protrude from right andleft end portions of the bottom surface of the housing 23 fit in theguide recesses 62 which are perforated or recessed in the bottom of thecassette accommodating portion 4 and the attachment 60. Further,truncated pyramid positioning protrusions 63 that protrude from thebottom surface of the housing 23 fit in the positioning recesses 64which are perforated and recessed in the bottom of the cassetteaccommodating portion 4 or the attachment 60. (See FIGS. 4 through 10.FIGS. 8 and 9 show the sheet cassettes in perspective views so that thehousings 23 b and 23 c can be seen.)

With the structure described above, in this invention, the attachment 60is provided with engagement portions for mounting the sheet cassette 23b or 23 c each having a different width on each predetermined position,so that the sheet cassette 23 b or 23 c each having the different width,can be easily fit at the predetermined position of the attachment 60.Further, the attachment 60 is accommodated in the cassette accommodatingportion 4 in the laminating apparatus 1, whereby the sheet cassettehousing 23 b or 23 c can be easily accommodated in the cassetteaccommodating portion 4 via the attachment 60.

Further, the bottom plate 60 a of the attachment 60 on which eithersheet cassette housing 23 b or 23 c is mounted (see FIGS. 10 and 11) andis formed in an appropriate height H1 as shown in FIG. 7. Therefore,when the sheet cassette housing 23 b or 23 c is accommodated in thecassette accommodating portion 4 via the attachment 60, the position ofthe laminate target insertion port 27 c and the laminate target feed-outport 27 d of the sheet cassette housing 23 b or 23 c in the heightdirection can be positioned at the same height as the position of thelaminate target insertion port 27 c and the laminate target feed-outport 27 d of the sheet cassette housing 23 a for A3-size paper in theheight direction. Accordingly, the paper P can pass through the samesupply path as that in the sheet cassette housing 23 a for A3-size paperwhen the sheet cassette housing 23 b or 23 c is accommodated in thecassette accommodating portion 4 via the attachment 60.

Consequently, in the laminating apparatus for A3-size paper 1, the paperP can be laminated using the sheet cassette housing 23 b or 23 c whichcan not be previously set in the laminating apparatus for A3-size paper1.

Further, in this invention, a sheet cassette housing whose width,thickness and height are smaller than that of the large sized sheetcassette housing, like the sheet cassette housing 23 b or 23 c, can beaccommodated in the cassette accommodating portion 4 of the laminatingapparatus 1 via the attachment 60. Accordingly, the sheet cassette canbe changed according to the size of paper P, so that the yields of thesheets S1, S2 can be increased. Furthermore, in the laminating apparatusfor A3-size paper, the paper P can be laminated using the sheet cassettehousing 23 b or 23 c which can not be previously set in the laminatingapparatus for A3-size paper.

In addition, in this invention, a sheet cassette housing whose width,thickness and height are smaller than that of the large sized sheetcassette housing 23 a, like the sheet cassette 23 b or 23 c, can beaccommodated in the cassette accommodating portion 4 of the laminatingapparatus 1 via the attachment 60. Accordingly, the sheet cassette canbe changed according to the size of paper P, so that the yields of thesheets S1, S2 can be increased.

Further, the time and trouble involved in developing a new small sheetcassette housing which has the width, thickness and height to just fitin the laminating apparatus for A3-size paper 1 can be saved.Furthermore, the problem that the operating costs become expensivebecause consumers buy sheet cassettes for each laminating apparatus canbe avoided.

There is a desire to laminate A3, A4, and A6-size paper. To respond tothis, the upper and lower sheets S1, S2 to be accommodated in thehousing 23 of the sheet cassette 20 are changed in their width. When thenumber of times that all sheets can laminate paper is set tosubstantially the same without concern for the size of the sheets, theroll length when the sheets S1, S2 for laminating a large size paper arerolled is long. Thus, by extension, the diameter of the rolls is large.Therefore, a dimension along the feed direction of the laminate targetof the housing 23 of the sheet cassette 20 (hereinafter referred to as adepth) is set large for the housing for large size paper and is setsmall for the housing for small size paper.

In such a case, the sheet cassette 20 needs to be detachably disposedbetween the pair of paper feed rollers and the pair of pinch rollers.Therefore, the distance between the pair of paper feed rollers 8 a, 8 band the pair of pinch rollers 31, 32 needs to be set long such that thepaper feed rollers 8 a, 8 b and the pinch rollers 31, 32 are fixedlydisposed as in the prior art. Consequently, there arose the problem thatthe small size paper cannot be laminated.

On the other hand, when the distance between rollers is set short sothat the small size paper can be laminated, the diameter of the sheetrolls 21, 22 to be accommodated in the sheet cassette 20 need to besmall. In this case, there arose the problem that the large size paper Pcan be laminated extremely few times, and the sheet cassette 20 or thesheet rolls 21, 22 in the sheet cassette 20 need to be frequentlychanged.

Therefore, in the housing 23 for laminating A3-size paper P, thedimension in the feed direction of the paper P (the depth) is enlarged.On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 through 6, in the front case 27a, a depressed portion 27 e, which is formed by depressing the paperinsertion port 27 c toward the paper feed-out port 27 d, is formed. In astate where the sheet cassette 20 is set, as described later, the paperfeed rollers 8 a, 8 b enter the depressed portion 27 e via the swingmechanism 3. On the other hand, in a state where the sheet cassette 20for small size paper (A4 or A6) is set, the paper feed rollers 8 a, 8 bare moved closer to the paper insertion port 27 c so that the distancebetween rollers becomes short. The sheet cassette 20 is structured sothat the sheet cassette 20 can be detachably mounted in the samelaminating apparatus even when each sheet cassette 20 has differentdimension.

Further, when the housing 23 b for A4-size paper and the housing 23 cfor A6-size paper is set on the attachment 60 so that the one endsurface of the housing contacts the block portion 60 c of the attachment60 (see FIGS. 10 and 11), the sheets S1, S2 are fed out so that theright edge of the paper P to be fed becomes a reference side of thelaminating operation.

In the condition described above, the size of the paper P which can belaminated can be displayed on a display unit 71, such as a liquidcrystal panel, provided on the laminating apparatus 1, by detectingportions 65, 65 which project from both ends of the side surface of theone longitudinal direction of the housings 23 a, 23 b, and 23 c using asensor 72, such as a limit sensor, disposed at a predetermined positionin the laminating apparatus 1.

The sheet rolls 21, 22 are the same as the prior art in that they areformed by winding elongated sheets in a roll shape, however, thematerial of the sheets is greatly different from the prior art. That is,in FIG. 6, the sheet S1 rolled as the sheet roll 21 disposed at theupper portion of the drawing includes a transparent resin film layer asa base and an adhesive layer laminated on one surface of the base. PET(polyethylenetelephthalate) is practically used as the film layerserving as the base of the sheet S1.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet S2 rolled as the sheet roll 22 which isdisposed at the lower portion is formed of a separation type sheet, andmore specifically the sheet S2 has paper as a base, and a materialhaving separativeness, such as paraffin or the like, is impregnated intoor laminated on the base. The sheet S1 has such an adhesiveness propertythat the adhesive layer of the sheet S1 is easily peeled off. The sheetS2 is not limited to the separation type sheet having paper as a base,and it may be a sheet using resin having separativeness as a base.

The sheet rolls 21, 22 are rotatably supported within the housing 23.

The sheets S1, S2 are drawn out from the paper feed-out port 27 d of thehousing 23 so that the adhesive surface and the separation face confronteach other.

The sheet cassette 20 is freely detachably mounted to the cassetteaccommodating portion 4 in the laminating apparatus 1 or the attachment60 which is freely detachably mounted to the cassette accommodatingportion 4. In a state where the large housing 23 a for A3-size paper isplaced on a bottom plate 4 a of the cassette accommodating portion 4 orthe state where the housing 23 b for A4-size paper or the housing 23 cfor A6-size paper is placed on the bottom plate 60 a of the attachment60, the paper insertion port 27 c is located on an extension line of thefeed path (supply path) of the paper P, that is, on a straight lineconnecting a pinching portion of the paper P of the paper feed rollers 8a, 8 b and a pinching portion of the pinch rollers 31, 32, so that thepaper P supplied from the paper supply tray 11 is smoothly fed into thesheet cassette 20 (see FIG. 4).

In a state where the sheet cassette 4 is not placed in the cassetteaccommodating portion 4, the shutter 24 covers the paper feed-out port27 d. In a state where the sheet cassette 20 is placed in the cassetteaccommodating portion 4, the shutter 24 is evacuated from the paperfeed-out port 27 d, so that the paper P can be fed out to the laminatingprocessor C.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6, the laminating processor C is providedwith pinch roller means 30 that includes the upper and lower rollers 31,32. The pinch roller means 30 is supported so that the pinch positionthereof faces the paper feed-out port 27 d of the sheet cassette 20placed in the cassette accommodating portion 4.

The lower roller 32 rotatably supported by right and left chassis 1 a′is a driving roller rotated by driving means such as a motor (notshown). On the other hand, the upper roller 31 is a driven roller whichis idle, and is rotated in contact with the lower driving roller 32. Inthe laminating apparatus 1 of the invention, the upper driven roller 31is structured to contact/release from the lower roller 32 in unison withthe movement of the swing mechanism 3 of the paper feed roller 8 a, 8 b,as shown in FIG. 3.

Next, a structure of the swing mechanism 3 will be described withreference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The paper feed rollers 8 a, 8 b are axially fixed at a halfway positionin the vertical direction of a pair of right and left main swing arms34, 34 pivotally supported by lower pivot pins 33 affixed to the lowerportion of the right and left of chassis 1 a′, 1 a′. A paper sensor 35for detecting the front edge of the paper P to be fed is mounted to aconnection plate 34 a that connects both main swing arms 34, 34.Further, guide pins 38, 38 that laterally project from a pair of rightand left cassette holding support arms 37, 37 whose base ends arepivotably supported by upper pivot pins 36 mounted on upper portions ofright and left chassis 1 a, 1 a slidably engage into each slit 39 thatelongates in the vertical direction and is perforated in forepart of theright and left main swing arms 37, 37. A press roller 40 for pressingfrom above the upper portion of the paper feed out side of the housing23 of the sheet cassette 20 inserted in the cassette accommodatingportion 4 is rotatably mounted to the front end of the right and leftcassette holding support arms 37, 37.

Further, both ends of the upper rollers 31 are rotatably supported by apair of roller arms 41, 41 rotatably supported by pins 42 provided atthe front end of the pair of right and left cassette holding supportarms 37, 37. One end of each torsion spring 44 supported by eachprojecting piece 43 which is formed by cutting and bending is caught bythe cassette holding support arm 37, and other end of each torsionspring 44 is engaged with the roller arm 41 so as to urge the roller arm41 downward.

The housing 23 a for A3-size paper is immediately set in the cassetteaccommodating portion 4, the attachment 60 in which the housing 23 b forA4-size paper or the housing 23 c for A6-size paper is set in advancethe cassette accommodating portion 4, or first the attachment 60 is setin the cassette accommodating portion 4 and then the housing 23 b or 23c is set therein. After that, an operator holds the front end of thecassette holding support arm 37 and rotates it to the paper feed-outside which is the upper portion of the housing 23 so that the housing 23is pressed so as not to be lifted up by the press roller 40. The rightand left cassette holding support arms 37, 37 are engaged with anengagement portion (not shown) of the chassis 1 a′ or the outer housing1 a while keeping the posture of the cassette holding support arms 37,37. At this time, the upper roller 31 mounted on the roller arms 41, 41is urged against the lower roller 32 by an urging force from the torsionsprings 44 (see a state of a portion indicated with a solid line in FIG.3).

Further, when the housing 23 is set under the pressure, the right andleft main swing arms 34, 34 are swung in the right direction in FIG. 3and the upper and lower paper feed rollers 8 a, 8 b which are paperfeeding means and are mounted to the main swing arms 34, 34 move closerto the paper insertion port 27 c, which is the laminate target leadingside of the sheet cassette 20, by a sliding connection relationship ofthe cassette holding support arms 37, 37 and the slits 39. In thisstate, a tip 45 a of a detecting arm 45 extending from the lower paperfeed roller 8 b toward the upstream of the paper feed direction detectsthe condition of the sheet cassette 20 by touching a sensor 46, such asa limit switch, which is provided to the laminating apparatus 1, andthus the condition of the sheet cassette 20 can be communicated to theoperator via the display unit.

On the other hand, when the right and left cassette holding support arms37, 37 are swung in the upper left direction in FIG. 3 so that thehousing 23 becomes free from the pressure, the upper roller 31 mountedon the roller arms 41, 41 at its front ends is released from the lowerroller 32, the main swing arms 34, 34 are also swung in the leftdirection, and the upper and lower paper feed rollers 8 a, 8 b which arethe paper feed means move to a distance from the paper insertion port 27c which is the laminate target leading side of the sheet cassette 20(see the state indicated with a double dashed chain line in FIG. 3).

The pinch roller means 30 described above functions to pinch the paper Pfed into the gap between the sheet S1, S2, which are supplied from thesheet cassette 20 mounted in the sheet supply unit B, together with thesheets S1, S2 and feed out the paper and sheets while joining them. Thepaper P pinched between the sheets S1, S2 supplied from the sheetcassette 20 is fed out while pinched by the pinch roller means 30,whereby the paper P is laminated by the sheets S1, S2 to thereby obtaina laminated member R.

The cutting unit D is provided with a first cutting mechanism (notshown) for cutting the laminate R fed out from the laminating processorC in the Y direction, and a cutter blade 66 (see FIG. 6) that is thesecond cutting mechanism for cutting the laminate R in the X direction,which is the direction perpendicular to the feed direction of thelaminate R.

A spiral groove is formed at the center of a circular plate type cutterblade of the lateral cutting mechanism. Further, a spiral shaft (notshown) is provided to the chassis 1 a′, and the spiral shaft is engagedwith the spiral groove of the cutter blade. The spiral shaft isrotatably mounted on the chassis 1 a′, and is connected to a motor (notshown). By rotating the motor, the spiral shaft is rotated and thecutter blade engaged with the spiral shaft is moved to cut the laminateR.

The cutter blade 66 of the second cutting mechanism serves to cut outthe side edge portion (salvage) of the laminate R when the width of thesheets S1, S2 is excessively larger than the paper P.

A laminating operation in the above-described structure will bedescribed. First, the sheet cassette 20 and housing 23 a for A3-sizepaper is directly set in the cassette accommodating portion 4 or theattachment 60 in which the small sheet cassette 20 and housing 23 b, 23c for A4 or A6-size paper is set in advance in the cassetteaccommodating portion 4.

When the sheet cassette 20 is mounted, the tip portions of the sheetsS1, S2 of the sheet cassette 20 are mutually adhesively attached to eachother in advance. Then, in this state, the cassette holding support arm37 is swung in the upward direction of the housing 23, the housing 23 ispressed by the pressing roller 40, and the tip portions of the sheetsS1, S2 are pinched by the pinch rollers 31, 32. At this time, thedistance between the pair of the upper and lower rollers 8 a, 8 b andthe pair of the pinch rollers 31, 32 can be shortened because the mainswing arms 34, 34 are rotated and moved closer to the front side of thehousing 23, and the upper and lower paper feed rollers 8 a, 8 b, whichare the paper feeding means, are moved closer to the front surface ofthe housing 23.

When the standby work is completed, the paper P to be laminated is puton the paper supply tray 11. Here, at least the width of the sheets S1,S2 are larger than the width of the paper P. When the paper P is fedbetween the paper feed rollers 8 a, 8 b along the sheet guide plate 12a, 12 b, the paper P is inserted into the sheet cassette 20 from thepaper insertion port 27 c of the sheet cassette 20 mounted in the sheetsupply unit B, sandwiched between the sheets S1 and S2 and fed out fromthe paper feed-out port 27 d to the laminating processor C while guidedby the sheet guide plates 25 a, 25 b and the resin spring 26. The paperP which is fed out together with the sheets S1, S2 is pinched by thepinch roller means 30 to laminate the paper P with the sheet S1, S2.

FIG. 13 is an embodiment that the pair of upper and lower sheet rolls21, 22 are directly disposed in the sheet supply unit B without usingthe sheet cassette 20. The pair of sheet guide portions 51 a, 51 b aredisposed between the centers of reels 21 a, 22 a of the sheet rolls 21,22 and the pinching portion 28 of the pinch rollers 31, 32 on the mainbody of the laminating apparatus.

The sheets S1, S2 to be drawn from the sheet rolls 21, 22 are drawn fromthe peripheries apart in up and down directions from the centers ofreels 21 a, 22 a of each sheet roll 21, 22. The sheets S1, S2 are curledat the tips (slide contact portions) of the sheet guide portions 51 a,51 b and contact the peripheries of the pinching side of the pinchrollers 31, 32. In this case, the centers of reels 21 a, 22 a of thesheet rolls 21, 22 are disposed at positions which are apart in the upand down directions from lead lines 50 a, 50 b of the sheets) connectingeach tip (slide contact portion) of the sheet guide portion 51 a, 51 band the peripheries of the pinching side of the pinch rollers.

With this structure, either when the diameter of the sheet rolls 21, 22are large, such as soon after starting using them, or when the diameterof the sheet rolls 21, 22 become small by using them so that the sheetsare drawn near the peripheries of the reels 21 a, 22 a of the sheetrolls 21, 22, the sheets S1, S2 drawn from the peripheries of the sheetrolls 21, 22 are led to the pinching portion 28 along the lead lines 50a, 50 b of the sheets formed by constant pinch angles θ1 and θ2 afterthe outer surfaces of sheets S1, S2 are surely slid and placed at thetips (slide contact portions) of the sheet guides 51 a, 51 b.

Further, the centers of reels 21 a, 22 a of the sheet rolls 21, 22,having a large winding diameter under service conditions (in pristinecondition), are preferably disposed upstream of the feed direction sothat the centers of reels 21 a, 22 a of the sheet rolls 21, 22 are moredistant from the sheet guide portions 51 a, 51 b than the centers ofreels 21 a, 22 a of the sheet rolls 21, 22 having a small windingdiameter in the pristine condition (see FIG. 13). According to thesestructures, as in the case where the sheet rolls are mounted using thesheet cassette 20, the pinch angles θ1, θ2 become constant and thus thelaminating action is maintained constant regardless of the size ofinitial diameters of the sheet rolls 21, 22 or the changes of thediameters of the sheet rolls 21, 22 through the use of the sheets.

As shown in FIG. 14, on outer surfaces of flange portions 53, 53 ofreels of the sheet rolls 21, 22 which are directly mounted on theapparatus and are accommodated in the sheet cassette 20, marks 54 aregiven by printing or the like along the circumference at appropriateintervals. The laminating apparatus 1 is structured to detect data aboutthe sheets, such as a type, width, winding diameter of the sheets S1, S2wound around the reels by the type of the marks 54 using a light flextype light sensor 55 (a light type encoder may be used) provided to themain body of the laminating apparatus 1. In this case, if the lightsensor 55 is disposed at a position where paths of rotation of the marks54, 54 on the flange portions 53, 53 of the sheet rolls having a largewinding diameter and a small winding diameter overlap each other, forexample, at a position within an area enclosed with K1, K2, K3, and K4in FIGS. 12 and 13, a plurality of sheet rolls, which each havedifferent diameters or whose centers of reels are located at differentpositions, can be identified (detected). Therefore, there is an effectthat the cost of manufacturing the laminating apparatus can be reduced.

In the laminating apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the sheet S1 has thetransparent resin film layer F as the base, the adhesive layer T islaminated on one surface thereof. When the sheet S2 is the separationtype sheet layer, the sheet S1 including the film layer F and theadhesive layer T is pressed against the surface of the paper P. The filmlayer F is adhered to the surface of the paper P by the adhesive layerT. On the other hand, the sheet S2 is pressed against the back surfaceof the paper P, however, the sheet S2 does not adhere to the paper Pbecause the sheet S2 has only the separation type sheet layer.

The width of the sheets S1, S2 is larger than the width of the paper P,and thus the sheets S1, S2 are protruded from the paper P in the widthdirection of the paper P. The adhesive layer T of the sheet S1 and theseparation type sheet layer of the sheet S2 are adhesively attached toeach other at the protruded portions, and the sheets S1, S2 and thepaper P are substantially integrated into the laminate R.

Thereafter, the laminate R is fed out to the cutting unit D.

In the laminating apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the first cuttingmechanism cuts the protruded extra edge portions of the sheet S1, S2 toobtain a proper edge width when the width of the sheets S1, S2 isexcessively larger that the width of the paper P. Further, when thefeed-out of the laminate R progresses and the laminate R reaches apredetermined position in the Y direction of the paper P, that is, atthe time when a predetermined position of the laminate R reaches thecutting position of the second cutting mechanism, the cutting blade 66the laminate R is cut by the second cutting mechanism in the Xdirection.

In the laminate R thus formed, the transparent film layer F is laminatedon the surface of the paper P, the separation type sheet layer L (FIG.15(a)) exists on the back surface of the paper P in a non-adhesionstate, the edge of the paper P is surrounded by the sheets S1, S2 andthe transparent film layer F and the separation type sheet layer Ladhere to each other at the protruded portions thereof while they areeasily peeled off from each other.

When the laminate R thus obtained is adhesively attached to the wall orthe like, the separation type sheet layer L on the back surface of thelaminate R is peeled off as shown in FIG. 15(b). As a result, theadhesive layer T of the sheet S1 is exposed to the surrounding portionof the paper P. Accordingly, the laminate R can adhere to a desk or thelike.

As another embodiment, the same sheet as the above embodiment (thelaminate sheet of the resin film layer F and the adhesive layer T) isused as the sheet S1, and a magnetic sheet is used as the sheet S2. Asan embodiment of the magnetic sheet, a sheet M having magnetism as abase and the adhesive layer T is laminated on one surface of the sheet Mas shown in FIG. 15. The sheet having magnetism may be formed bykneading magnetic material into rubber or synthetic resin to magnetizethe sheet.

The laminate sheet S1 composed of the resin film layer F and theadhesive layer T and the magnetic sheet S are wounded in a roll shapeand accommodated in the housing 23 to fabricate a sheet cassette 20, andthen the sheet cassette 20 thus fabricated is mounted in the sheetsupply unit B. Subsequently, the same steps as described above arecarried out to obtain a laminate RM having the layer structure as shownis FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b).

The surface of the laminate RM is protected by a transparent resin filmlayer F, and the magnetic layer M is laminated on the back surface ofthe laminate RM. Accordingly, the laminate RM can be magneticallyattached to an iron plate or the like.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sheet cassette for use in a laminatingapparatus including a laminate processor in which a pair of upper andlower pinch rollers are rotatably disposed, comprising: a housing havingan accommodating area; a pair of upper and lower sheet rolls that aresheets wound in a roll shape and that are accommodated in the housing;an insertion port formed at a front side of the housing, at which alaminate target is fed into a gap between the sheet rolls; a feed-outport formed at a back side of the housing, at which the laminate target,fed through the insertion port, is fed to the laminate processor outsideof the housing together with the sheets fed out from the sheet rolls,respectively; a pair of sheet guide portions disposed near the feed-outport, that guide the sheets out of the housing, wherein the sheets aredrawn from peripheries of the upper and lower sheet rolls that are apartfrom a center of each upper and lower sheet roll in an upper and a lowerdirection so that outer surfaces of each sheet slide and contact thesheet guide portions, and the centers of each sheet roll are disposed atpositions apart from lead lines of the sheets further drawn to connectperipheries of a pinching side of each pinch roller and slide contactportions of the sheet guides.
 2. The sheet cassette as claimed in claim1, wherein the center of each sheet roll is positioned so as to be apartfrom the sheet guide portions in proportion to a size of the windingdiameter of the respective sheet.
 3. The sheet cassette claimed in claim1, further comprising an attachment that is detachably attached to thehousing, accommodating the sheet rolls, having a smaller windingdiameter than that of a maximum sized housing used in the laminatingapparatus so that the center of the sheet roll is at a position closerto the pinch rollers as a size of the winding diameter of the sheet issmaller when the sheet cassette is mounted in the laminating apparatus.4. The sheet cassette claimed in claim 3, wherein the attachment furthercomprises engagement portions capable of mounting various housing, eachhaving different widths.
 5. The sheet cassette claimed in claim 1,further comprising a pair of upper and lower guide plates that areprovided in the housing so as to extend from the insertion port to thefeed-out port, and that form a guide path for guiding the laminatetarget fed from the insertion port to the feed-out port.
 6. The sheetcassette claimed in claim 5, wherein the lower guide plate is shorterthan the upper guide plate, and the lower guide plate is provided withan urging member for pressing the laminate target being fed against theupper guide plate.
 7. The sheet cassette claimed in claim 1, wherein thefeed-out port is provided with a shutter member for opening/closing thefeed-out port.
 8. The sheet cassette claimed in claim 1, wherein theshutter member consists of a pair of upper and lower shutters.
 9. Thesheet cassette claimed in claim 1, further comprising a detect portiondisposed at an exterior surface of the back side of the housing foridentifying a size of the laminate target which can be laminated. 10.The cassette claimed in claim 9, wherein the detect portion consists ofprojections projecting from both ends of the exterior surface of theback side of the housing.
 11. The sheet cassette claimed in claim 1,wherein the sheets further comprise a first sheet having a transparentresin film layer and an adhesive layer, and a second sheet having anon-adhesive, separation type layer.
 12. The sheet cassette claimed inclaim 1, wherein the sheets further comprise a first sheet having atransparent thin film layer and an adhesive layer, and a second sheethaving a magnetic base layer and an adhesive layer.